Educational Suport Specialist

Job Title:

Education Support Specialist

Department:

Location:

Foster Family Services

Montebello

Reports To:

Education Coordinator

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Salary Range:

Starting at $27.40 to $28.37 an hour

Position Summary: The Education Support Specialist is vital in fostering children's academic success and personal growth by supporting their enrollment and integration into community schools. This role is responsible for implementing current educational standards and staying informed on the latest developments in curriculum and instruction. The specialist will work closely with the education Coordinator to ensure advocacy for the children, the delivery of high-quality educational services, successful enrollment, academic progress, and career planning for youth in LTFC.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following: other duties may be assigned satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Training and Development:

• Develop and facilitate training programs for children for transitional living skills.
• Assist with facilitating educational support services for children's academic needs.
• Provide individualized learning plans for each child during off-periods.
• Assist with ongoing curriculum development.

Compliance and File Auditing:

• Assist with conducting regular audits of education records to ensure compliance with ORR guidelines and state education requirements.
• Assist in maintaining accurate documentation with ORR of academic records for each child.

Education Oversight:

• Assist with timely school enrollment for minors in LTFC and support their academic transitions.
• Guide minors in identifying and accessing vocational training, GED programs, and postsecondary education.
• Monitor academic progress and create Individual Academic Success Plans (IASPs) that align with youth goals.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Serve as the liaison between MARSELL and educational institutions, school districts, and vocational training providers.
• Collaborate with program directors, case managers, and clinicians to ensure integrated service delivery.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Maintain accurate documentation of academic plans, enrollment status, and progress reports in the EMR.
• Assist with generating internal and external education reports for audits, licensing, and ORR compliance.

Program Development and Coordination:

• Enhance the delivery of education services through program development, partnerships, and innovation.
• Collaborate with leadership to align education services with the overall goals of the Educational Wellness and Family Wellness divisions.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following.

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems promptly; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem-solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Communications - Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Teamwork—Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts team success above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.
• Professionalism - Tactfully approaches others; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

• Minimum 4 years of experience working in educational programs, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Experience working with youth in foster care, refugee, or immigrant populations is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of school enrollment processes, trauma-informed practices, and career-readiness programming.

Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age.

Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or 5 years of experience in an education-related field.

• A bachelor’s degree in education, social work, public administration, or a related field is required..
• Experience with IEP/504 coordination, MTSS frameworks, and school re-entry planning is preferred.

Language Ability:

Bilingual in Spanish is preferred but not required.

Read, analyze and interpret business, professional, technical or governmental documents. Write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, customers and the public.

Mathematical Ability:

Add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Compute rate, ratio and percent, and draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability:

Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Proficient in the use of standard office equipment.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401 k
• 401 k matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance (Company Paid)
• Voluntary Life Insurance (Employee Paid)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Emloyee Wellness Day(s)